COVID-19 cases double overnight in SLO County
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The number of confirmed COVID-019 cases in San Luis Obispo County has doubled from three to six.
San Luis Obispo County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein made the announcement at a daily press briefing Tuesday afternoon.
"The numbers have changed and we absolutely anticipate our numbers will go up at a rapid pace," said Dr. Borenstein.
She added one of the individuals was "younger" in age, and was a recent international traveler who had visited an unidentified county where COVID-019 is widespread.
One of the other cases is from the North County and does not have a known source or travel history, while the other had direct contact with a confirmed case that happened out of the county.
Borenstein also stated that she supports guidance issued by the California Department of Health yesterday that includes further restrictions on eating and drinking establishments.
Those restrictions would close down dine-in options for customers at restaurants and allow purchases only drive-through, take out or delivery methods.
The restrictions would also close bars, breweries, wineries and pubs to help prevent large gatherings of people.
Borenstein added Public Health is actively working on an emergency response plan with local hospitals should the number of patients exceed the number of available beds.
"I want the community to know that we are taking this very seriously and we are looking at all manner of plans for in-hospital expansion, as well as potentially, out-of-hospital expansion to meet any acute healthcare health needs that may come our way as part of this pandemic," said Dr. Borenstein.
She also added a laboratory issue could limit the amount of tests that could be administered in the county for the virus.
"Today, we have found ourselves with a limitation on the extraction reagents for the test and so we are having to pull back a bit from our capacity of 50 and we're waiting for additional reagents and we hope we will have them in our hands today or tomorrow," said Dr. Borenstein.
County Administrative Officer Wade Horton announced the Board of Supervisors officially ratified last's week declarations of a Public Health Emergency and a Local Emergency.
He also said the county businesses are now eligible to apply for a federal disaster relief loan and that county officials are working on an order that would limit evictions during the current crisis.
San Luis Obispo County Public Health Officials hold Tuesday briefing
